Folding crib



Aug. l6 1927.

1,639,110 l. RAUT ENBERG v FOLDING CRIB ZSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct 29, 1926 NVE TOR.

I 15/0 07" Era/71, 77

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 16 ,-1927.

I. RAUTENBERG FOLDING CRIB iled Oct. 29. 19.26

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

- urn'ren STATES ISIDOR BAUTENBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CRIB.

Application filed October 29, 1926.

My invention relates to an improved construction of folding crib by which the crib is provided with sides and ends in the usual manner to insure the safety of the child 00- cupying the crib, and atthe'same time permitting the entire crib structure to be folded in very compact condition by a single move ment and without the need for moving any of the parts of the sides and ends from their relation to each other required to give the crib stability whenopen and in use. This result I secure by making each side of the crib in two parts and pivoting the parts to gether and to the ends of the crib so that a mid-section of the crib may move vertically and in parallel relation to the ends of the crib during the folding operation, during which the ends and movable mid-section are referably maintained substantially in paralel relationat all times by the parts of the sides of the crib pivotally connecting them. The construction thus provides that where the crib is provided with castors which is ordinarily the case, it may be readily moved from one position to another either in open condition or in folded condition and furthermore, in folded condition, it may readily be carried if desired from one location to another. 7

By my invention I further provide that the sides and ends of the crib may be rela tively high to safeguard the child using the crib, and to facilitate making the bed in the crib, and to make it convenient for the child: to get into and out of the crib, I construct one of the sides of the crib so that it may be moved to a position affording a clearance space in that side of the crib, giving ready access thereto, without the difficulty of reach ing over the high side of the crib, this movable side of the crib in no way interfering with the proper functioning of the crib when the movable side is in its raised position, and I in no way interfering with the folding of the crib.

Serial No. 144,933.

close the end of the crib to protect the occu-,

pant thereof. The panel 1 L is preferably employed to afford desired ornamentation and may be replaced by anyother form of enclosing structure,'-forexample bars similar to the bars 15. The lower ends of the legs 10, 10 are provided preferably with castors 1 6, 16 to permit the crib to be readily moved from one location to another either in its open or its folded condition.

Each leg 10 has'secured thereto near its upper end and somewhat below its middle portion, metal brackets 17, 17' which, as more clearly shown inFigs. 2, 4 and 5 extend beyond the'inner edges of the legs 10 to support the pivotal connections '18, 18 engaging the outer ends of the bars 19, 19 which form a part of the sides of the crib. The bars 19, 19- are of subtsantially half the length of the crib and attheir inner ends, they are pivotally connected at 20with metal brackets 21 secured to central legs '22, similar to the end legs. 10, and similarly provided with castors 16. Thepair of middle legs 22 are secured together by cross bars 23, the upper- I one of which is; lower than the Crossbars 12 in the crib ends, so that the mattress or bed supporting means maybe secured to the bars 12 and be clear of the upper one of the bars 23, when the crib is in use.

- Each pair of side bars 19, 19 which are one above the other in the same vertical plane, are connected by enclosing slats 24- pivot-ally connected at 25 with the upper bar 19'and at 26 with the lower bar 19, .these slats 2e serving'to complete the enclosing sides of the crib. It will be noted that the pivotal-connections-25 are in a line slightly oblique to the edges of the upper bar 19 and that the same is true concerning the pivotal connections 26 and the lower bar 19. This relation is for the purpose of permitting the slats 24: to lie side'by side without inter- 1 ference from each other when theinner ends' of the bars 19 are raised so that the bars 19 are in vertical position one over the other as shown in Fig. i, when the crib is in its folded condition.

The bar 19 differs from the bars 19 only in. that its inner end is pivotally connected with the upper ends of offset slotted 1nembers 27 through the lower ends of the slots of which a clamping bolt 28 extends through the corresponding leg 22 to support the bar 19 in line with the top of the crib when the crib is in use. A hook latch 29 en aging a pin or screw 30 on. the inner end of the bar 19, is pivotally connected at 31 with the adjacent end of the corresponding bar 19, to retain the bar 19 in alignment with and in proper relation to the corresponding bar 19 when the crib is open and in use. Slat-s 24, 24 are pivotally connected at their ends with the bar 19 and with the bar 19 below it, as indicated at 25 and 26 respectively, the difference between the slats 24; and the slats 2a being that the slats 2d are slotted through their lower portions to receive the pivotal connections 26 26 to permit the bar 19 to be moved downwardly relatively to the bar 19 below it, when desired.

It will be understood that with a crib construction of the kind described, it is desirable that the sides and the ends of the crib shall be high enough so that a child cannot readily climb from the crib. Vi ith this proportion of the parts, it is diflicult to reach over the side of the crib to place a child in it or to make the bed of the crib. .The con struction described obviates this diificulty as follows: When it is desired to have ready access to the crib, the hook latch 29 is moved to its position releasing the pin or screw 30. the wing nut 28 on the bolt 28 is released and the bar 19 is moved downwardly on its pivotal connection 18 until it assumes substantially the position indicated in dotted lines at19 in Fig. 2, for which position the slotted members 27 are in substantially hori- Zontal position just above the bottom bar 19. This movement is permitted by the slotted construction of the slats 2 1 which slats for the lower position of the bar 19, assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to close the clearance space thus afforded, the bar 1. a raised to its position indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, the Wing nut 28 is turned to tightly clamp the slotted members 27 to the corresponding leg 22, and if it is desired to use the crib, the hook latch 29 is moved to its position engaging the pin or screw 30.

Vvhen it is desired to fold the crib, the hook latch 29 is moved 'to its releasing posi tion and the operator grasps the handles 31, 31 secured to the upper edges of the inner ends of. two of the side bars. and exerts a lifting movement on said handles. This has the-efiect' of raising the middle legs 22, the weight of the remaining parts causing the casters on the legs 10 to remain on the floor, and the parts assume the position indicated in Fig. 5. Continued movement in the direction described, completes the folding operation and when the crib is completely folded the parts occupy the position indicated in Fig. i, in which position they may be retained by a hook 32 carried by one of the legs 10 engaging a screw eye 33, or any equivalent device, carried by the other leg 10 on the same side of the crib. it will of course be understood that any equivalent form of retaining device may be employed between the folded parts of the structure to prevent their separation, when it is desired to retain the crib in; its folded condition. It will be observed that as a result of the relation of the parts, when the crib is in its folded condition, 1t has a thickness substantially equal to the width of the two legs 10 and the central leg 22 and of the bars 19 between said legs, since the pivotal supports are preferably so related that these bars and legs lay adjacent each other when the crib is in its folded relation. It will also be noted that when the parts of the crib are in their folded relation, two of the side bars of each side are above and in line with the other two side bars of the same side. Iii-this way the fold-- ed structure is given a mini'ini which may be determined by the size legs and side bars employed.

of the While I may employ any form of bed thickness,

operation and the DICPOItlOH of the In some cases it is desirable to carry the a folded structure from one pace to another, and I find it'convenient to provideone of the central legs 22 with a handle 37 which may be used for this purpose. It will be observed that in the folded condition of the crib, the end casters 15 serve to support the crib in vertical position and facilitate moving the folded crib from one position to another as desired and the handle 37 ismum thickness.

it is desirable, however, that excepting assuch clearance is necessary, the ends of the I bars 19, 19 shall be squared and that the squared portions of said ends shall constitute shoulders engaging the crib legs when the; cribis open, tending to support the mid portion of the crib sides in horizontal position. This relation not only imparts sta bility to the crib when it is open, but may, by properly fitting the parts, be relied upon entirely to support the rindportions of the stood that the sections of each side may be of unequal length if preferred, since my invention will be realized generically by any structure of the kind described, in which the mid portion of each crib side may be moved upwardly, and by said movement draw the crib ends together, at the same time maintaining said crib ends substantially parallel with each other, to the end that the folded structure shall have a mini- The essential requirement is that each crib side shall bein two sections, Whether of equal length ornot, pivotally connected and supported substantially as described, so that in folding the crib, each side section moves upwardly relatively to the adjacent crib end with substantially a parallel-ruler movement, for otherwise it is difficult, if not impossible, to make the crib structure stable and rigid'when open, without the use of special locking devices and additional operations which are avoided by my invention. With my construction but a single movement or operation is required to fold or open the crib, imparting what may be termed a double papallehrulermove ment to each crib side, and the crib can, safely be left as so folded, or used as so p-loyequivalents known to the art at the.

time of the filing of this application with out departing from theseope of the, appended claims. hat I claim is: r p r 1. In a folding crib having ends, sides and a bed supporting means held in substan tially horizontal position thereby, said ends and sides being of substantial height above said bed supporting means to retain a child in said crib, the combinationof end legs, pivot supporting brackets offset towards each other and carried by saidlegs substantially in line with the upper and lower edges of said crib sides, a center post for each crib si e, second pivot supporting brackets carried by ach of said cei'iter posts substantially in line with the upper and lower edges of the corresponding crib side, said second bracketshaving oli'set portions ezrteinling away from ach other in the pane of the corresponding crib side, side bars of substantiallyhalf the length of the c pivotally connected in horizontal position with said brackets to form the upper and lower edge members of the crib sides, vertical pivotally connected at their ends in spaced relation to the upper and lower 'de bars to form slatted sides for the crib, vhereby vertical movement of said center posts upwardly moves said side bars to substantially vertical position adjacent said center posts and draws said legs toy in vertical position adjacent the then vertical side' bars, the pivotal con nection of one of said upper side bars to the spending center post comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected at its upper end with said upper side bar and extending downwardly along said center post, and" a clan'iping bolt extending through the slot 'iisaid slotted bar, and through theiower portion of saidcenter post, whereby said upper side bar may elowered with the crib space through'one side of the crib,

2. In a folding crib having ends, sides and bed sup 'norting means held in substantially horizontal position thereby, said ends and sides being of substantial height above said bed supporting means to retain a child in said crib, the con'ibination of end legs, pivot support ng brackets offset towards each other and carried by said legs substantially inline with the upper and lower ec of said crib sidesfacenter post for each crib side, second pivot, supporting brackets carried by each of said center posts substantia ly in line with the upper and lower edges of the corresponding crib side, sai'c second brackets having offset portions extending away from each other in the plane ofv the corresponding crib side, sidebars of substantially hal the length of. he crib pivotally connected in horizontalposition with rid brackets to form the upper andv lower edge members of the crib sides, vertical slats pivotally connected at their ends in spaced 1 re tionto the upper and lower side bars to form slatted sides for the crib, whereby vert cal movement of said center posts wardly moves said side bars to subst vertical position adjacent said center posts and draws said legs together in vertical position adjacent the then vertical side bars, the pivotal connection of one of said upper side bars to the corresponding center post comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected at its upper end with said upper side bar and extending downwardly along said center post, and a clamping bolt extending through the slot in said slotted bar and through the lower portion of said center post, whereby said upper side bar may be lowered with the crib in its open condition to afford a clearance space through one side of the crib, the slats connected with said upper side bar having sliding connection with one of the side bars connected therewith to facilitate lowering movement of said upper side bar.

3. In a folding crib having ends, sides and a bed supporting means held in substantially horizontal position thereby, said ends and sides being of substantial. height above said bed supporting means to retain a child in said crib, the combination of end legs, pivot supporting brackets offset towards each other and carried by said legs substantially in line with the upper and lower edges of said crib sides, a center post for each crib side, second pivot supporting brackets arried by each of said center posts substan tially in line with the upper and lower edges of the corresponding crib side, said second brackets having offset portions extending away from each other in the plane of the corresponding crib side, side bars of sub stantially half the length of the crib pivotally connected in horizontal position with said brackets to form the upper and lower edge members of the crib sides, vertical slats pivotally connected at their en'ds in spaced relation to the upper and lower side bars to form slatted sides for the crlb, whereby vertical movement of said center posts upwardly moves said side bars to Substanti ally vertical position adjacent said center posts and draws said legs together in vertical position adjacent the then vertical side bars, the pivotal connection of one of said upper side bars to the corresponding center pest comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected its upper end with said upper side bar and extending downwardly along said center post, a clamping bolt extending through the slot in said slotted bar and through the lower portion of said center post. whereby said upper side bar may be lowered with the crib in its open condition to afford a clearance space through one side of the crib, and a latch for holding the inner end of said upper side bar adjacent the corresponding center post for the open conditioniof the crib.

4. In a folding crib, the combination of side and end sections pivotallyconnected to gether to permit movement relatively to said end sections of said side sections in their own planes, each of said side sections consisting of two parts pivotally connected together to permit relative movement thereof in their own planes, whereby upward movement of the mid-portions of said side sections collapses the parts thereof in the planes of said side sections and draws said end sectio: s towards each other to fold the crib, and devices changeably connecting the two parts of one of said side sections permitting inde pend int movement of one of said two parts to afford ready access to the crib.

In a folding crib, the combination of side and end sections pivotally connected together to permit movement relatively to said end sections of said side sections in their own planes, each of said side sections consisting of two parts pivotally connected together to permit relative movement thereof in their own planes, whereby upward movement of the mid-portions of said side sections collapses the parts thereof in the planes of said side sections and draws said end sections tovices connecting the two parts of one of said side sections and having changeable relation thereto permitting movement of one of said two parts to afford ready access to the crib with the other of said two parts in open condition. v

6. In a folding crib having ends, sides and a bed supporting means held in substantially horizontal position thereby, said ends and sides being of substantial height above said bed supporting means to retain a child in said crib, the combination of end legs, center post for each crib side, side bars of substantially half the length of the crib pivotally connected in horizontal position with said legs and said posts to form the upper and lower edge members of the crib sides, vertical slats pivotally connected at their ends in spaced relation to the upper and lower side bars to form slatted sides for the crib, whereby vertical movement of said center posts upwardly, moves said side bars to substantially vertical position adjacent said center posts and draws said legs together in vertical position adjacent the then vertical side bars, the pivotal connection of one of, said upper side bars to the corresponding center post comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected at its upper end with said upper side bar and extending downwardly along said center post, and a clamping bolt extending through the slot in said slotted bar and through the lower portion of said center post, whereby said upper side bar may be lowered with the crib in its open condition to afford a clearance space'through one side of the crib.

7. In a folding crib having ends, sides and a bed supporting means held in subds each other to fold the crib, and destantially horizontal position thereby, said ends and sides being of substantial height above said bed supporting means to retain a child in said crib, the combination or end legs, a center post for each crib side, side bars of substantially half the length of the crib pivotally connected in horizontal position with said legs and said posts to form the upper and lower edge members of the crib sides, vertical slats pivotally connected at their ends in spaced relation to the upper and lower side bars to form slattedsides for the crib, whereby vertical movement of said center posts upwardly, moves said side bars to substantially vertical position adjacent said center posts and draws said legs together in vertical position adjacent the then vertical side bars, the pivotal connection of one of said upper sidebars to the corre sponding cent-er post comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected at its upper end with said upper side bar and extending downwardly along said center post, and a clamping bolt extending through the slot in said slotted bar and through the lower portion of said center post, whereby said upper side bar may be lowered with thecrib in its open condition to afford a clearance space through one side of the crib, the slats connected with said upperside bar having sliding connection with one of the side bars connected therewith to facilitate lowering movement of said upper side bar. I

8. In a folding crib having ends, sides and a bed supporting means held in substantially horizontal position thereby, said ends and sides being of substantial height above said bed supporting means to retain a child in said crib, the combination of end legs, a center post for each crib side, side bars of substantially half the length of the crib pivotally connected in horizontal position with said legs and said posts to form the upper and lower edge members of the crib sides, vertical slats pivotally connected at their ends in spaced relation to the upper and lower side bars to form slatted sides for the crib, whereby vertical movement of said center posts upwardly, moves said side bars to substantially vertical position adjacent said center posts and draws said legs togcther in vertical position adjacent the then vertical side bars, the pivotal connection of one of said upper side bars to the corresponding center post comprising a slotted bar pivotally connected at its upper end with said upper side bar and extending downwardly along said center post, and a clamping bolt extending through the slot in said slotted bar and through the lower portion of said center post, whereby said upper side bar may be lowered with the crib in its open condition to afford a clearance space through one side oi the crib, and a latch for holding the inner end of said upper side bar adjacent the corresponding center post for the open condition of the crib.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of October, A. D. 1926. v 1

ISIDOR RAUTENBERG. 

